LSU knew it had to rely on its offense to win.
After giving up 706 total yards to Ole Miss, it faced a similar challenge against Missouri on the road. Like the Ole Miss game, the offenses dominated, but this time, LSU made the plays it needed to, winning 49-39.
“I’m just so proud of the way they competed,” head coach Brian Kelly told ESPN in his postgame interview.
While still giving up 39 points and 527 y”’ards, LSU’s defense got the late stops it needed highlighted by a pick six from Major Burns with under a minute left.
From the first drive, it was clear what type of game was going to take place. Missouri scored touchdowns on each of its first three drives, an offensive effort led by star wide receiver Luther Burden III, who finished the game with 149 yards on 11 catches.
After trailing throughout the first half, a pair of stops to start the second half helped LSU take its first lead of the game. The game flipped for LSU when Harold Perkins intercepted Brady Cook’s pass late in the first half.
“It’s taken us a while to get his role defined,” Kelly said of Perkins. “I think we’ve now established where he can best fit and it really allows us to be consistent of how we set our front.”
From there, it became a race to the finish line.
Both offenses moved the ball with ease down the stretch of the game, a similar story to LSU’s previous two games.
LSU’s offense started the game by establishing the run, and that paid dividends in multiple respects. LSU ran for over 200 yards in the game, and the early rushing success opened up the downfield passing attack in the second half.
The turning point of that success came on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Brian Thomas Jr. which gave LSU its first lead of the game. The defense fell for the play action, and the misdirection in the secondary created space behind the defense that Thomas took advantage of.
Once the game hit the fourth quarter, it was clear the game would come down to the quarterbacks. For Daniels, though, that wouldn’t be easy.
After what he thought was a touchdown, Daniels took a hard, late hit in the endzone that caused a rib injury. Despite the injury, he didn’t back away from the challenge.
“He’s just got the heart of a champion,” Kelly said.
On the next drive after the injury, Daniels ran for a 35-yard touchdown to give LSU the lead, and after Missouri scored on the following drive, Daniels led another touchdown drive, capped off by a touchdown pass on the run to Malik Nabers.
That touchdown ended up being the difference, and led by Daniels, LSU got a win it desperately needed.
Daniels finished the game throwing for 259 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 130 yards and a touchdown. His perseverance willed LSU to the win, a win that can give LSU some hope back to be a contender in the SEC West.
“Jayden Daniels is just a warrior,” Kelly said. “He’s tough, he’s physical, he’s smart, he’s skilled, I can’t use enough superlatives about him individually.”
